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Masters of the Trading Game1
 
Masters of the Trading Game
Masters of the Trading Game
A Science Fiction short story by Jim ClineCover design by Paul AdamsThe engine of the little aircraft he had rented hadsuddenly quit, and soon stalled, now heading rapidlytoward the rough terrain below. He had a toolkitwhich quickly showed him that the engine had quitbecause its flight controller had been sent a signal byan airport ground control that the plane had landedand was to shut the engine down and let thepassenger out. Unable to change the instruction tothe autopilot, he activated his suit's buoyancy control,needed to live on this heavy gravity planet, set to anegative average weight, opened the door and jumped out. The plane sped downward past him;moments later it hit the ground, splattering pieces allover the mountainside. Reaching the ground, headjusted his average weight for some traction, andbounded lightly across the terrain. Reaching thewreckage, he retrieved his luggage and lightly
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Masters of the Trading Game
bounded away to a place that provided concealment;yet he was able to view the wreckage. Soon ahelicopter arrived out of nowhere in this desolateplace, and it squirted a stream of liquid fuel all overthe wreckage, ignited it; hovered awhile to watch theinferno, then flew off.So far, his day was not going well. Up until today,things had seemed to be quite reasonable. He hadarrived as an ambassador to this planet, with aspecialty in sociology, to determine how the beingshere needed to be treated for a harmonious traderelationship with the Federation of Planets. It was nota judgmental activity; merely standard research todetermine the data needed to establish the optimumtrade relationship parameters.They had no intention to interfere with any planet'sdoings; all they wanted was the working traderelationship so as to acquire needed goods inexchange for goods of which they had too much. Thepeople here generally understood that. And yet, oneof the natives had only yesterday acted odd andquietly told him to mind his own business or he would
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